Camcpbk s apabtment



Oct. 4, 1927.

K. STEWART CAMPERS APARTMENT Filed June 9, 1925 V 2 Sheets-Sheet l I 2 Sheets-S1156; 2

L. K. STEWART C AMPERS APARTMENT Filed June 9 'Oct. 4, 1927.

Patented Get. 4, 1927.

cAMrnRs APARTMENT.

Application filed June 5, 1925. Serial No. 35,978.

This invention relates to camping outfits designed to be carried upon an automobile or truck in a folded up condition and when unfolded to provide a bed structure and certain other features, as will be later stated.

The general object of the invention is to provide a very simple and compact device of this'character which has a main body portion supported upon the running board of the automobile anda section'which is detachable from engagement therewith and shiftable outward, there being a foldabe frame and bed mounted upon the two sections so that when one section is shifted outward from the other the bed will be unfolded.

A further object is to provide a structure of this character which provides not only for a bed but provides for the support of a tent over the bed, and further provides a wardrobe compartment wherein clothes may be carried, a mirror support, and a support for hats and other objects.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character from which the bed maybe readily removed so as to permit the device to be used as a room with the flaps or flies of the tent either rolled-up or allowed to fall.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which is so constructed that the body of the case ordinarily mounted upon the running board ofthe automobile may besupported'upon the ground and the bed disposed at a proper height therein. Still another object is to provide means whereby the bed may be disposed transversely readily, notwithstanding the fact that the device may be'on uneven ground.

Other objects have to do with the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will appear more fully hereinafter.

lli'y invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical section through an automobile camping attachment showing the attachment opened out;

Figur'e'2 is a section on the line 2-2 of the construction shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of two of the rails of a bed section showingthe manner in which the foldable joint is made;

4. is a vertical section from from;

to rear showing the camping attachment folded up;

Figure 5 is a vertical section looking at the rear of the structure showing the lid raised;

Figure 6 is a vertical section looking at the foot supporting part showing the bow thereof lifted;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one of the hooks for holdin the bow raised;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary section showing the manner in which the bed frame is connected to the foot section;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary View of the bracing rope whereby the foot section is supported against strain;

Figure 10 is a perspective view showing the attachment with the tent in p ace.

. eferring to the drawings; it will be seen that I have provided a case within which the bed and bed supporting structure isdesigned to be folded, this case including abody 10 which is designed to constitute the head, as it *might be termed of the bed, this body 10 being adapted to rest upon the running board A ofan automobile and be engaged therewith in any suitable manner. The case includes the sides 11 and the bottom 12, this bottom being formed with outwardly projecting base flanges 13 at each end. The back 14 of the case is atta hed to the ends and bottom in any suitable manner and preferably this case is formed of metal. though it wil be understood that it. might be formed of any other suitable material.

Hingedly attached to the back 14 at the upper edge thereof is the lid or cover 15 which has the downwardly extending, marginal flanges l6 and is held in an elevated position by means of the braces 17, these braces extending down inside of transversely extending strips 18 which are riv eted, bolted or otherwise attached to the end walls 11 and the strip 17 being notched at intervals, as at 19, to engage with a pin or 1"ivet20, Thus the lid or cover may be ad justed as to height to any desired extent.

Coacting with the body or head section 10 is the foot section 21 whichconsists of the front wall 22 and the ends 23, these ends having a height equal to the height of the ends 11 of the body section. and the length of the section 21 is slightly ess than the .l the body section i s"? that these Add end walls 23 will fit within the end walls 11 and the bottom. 24 of the foot section will fit upon the bottom 12 of the body section 10. Attached to the end walls 23 are the vertical guide strips 25 and operating within these guide strips are the two 536 of an arch or cross bar 27, these legs 26 and cross bar 27 constituting a bow for the support of the tent, as will be later stated. These legs 26 are provided with pivoted latches 28 which, when. the supporting bow is raised, catch over the rear wall 22 and thus support the bow in its raised position. This how is preferably formed with oppositely disposed perforations 29 with which the tent is en gag-ed, as will be later stated.

The lower ends of the side walls 23 are cut away at 30 for a reason which will appea-r hereafter, and attached to the forward edges of these side walls and extending up parallel thereto and just inside thereof are the bed supporting strips 31 having downwardly and forwardly inclined notches in their edges and attached to the rear wall are a pair of upwardly extending plates 32 each formed with a longitudinally extending slot 33. Operating behind each of these plates and guided thereby is a slide 3% having an outwardly projecting hinge head with which the forward end of the bed is eng'aged.

The section 22 is adapted to [it within the section '10 and when these two sections are fitted together and the lid is closed, the two sections and the lid together constitute a carrying case within which the bed, the tent, clothing, etc., are enclosed and housed. In order to conveniently pull out the front section, I provide a handle 36, and in order to close these sections and hold them closed together I provide a strap section 37 which is adapted to engage with a second strap section 37 on the Floor 12 and I also provide the hasp 88 adapted to engage with the eye 38 on the member 22 and be held in eng'agenient therewith by means of a padlock.

Normally disposed in a folded condition within the section 10 but untold able into extended position is a bed si'lpporting frame consisting of three sections A, B and Each of the sections is rectangular in form and is -formed of the longitudinal members 39 and transverse members 4:0. The section A is hinged to the section B by means of a hinge 41 which permits the section B to be swung downwardly with relation to the section A so that the two sections A and B may be swung into parallel relation or into aligned relation as shown.

The sections B and C are connected by means of a double hinge, as shown in Figure 3, consisting of a relatively hinge plate or leaf 4-2, and pivoted to the ends oli this plate 42 are the leaves which are attached in any suitable manner to the sec tions B and C but inward of the ends of these sections so that when. these sections are turned into a. horizontal position these proje ting ends will be disposed beneath the plate 42, as shown in. Figure 3, and when lhe rails 5-39 of the sections B and C are turned up to a folded. or vertical position the mall; ass and springs of the bed. will be contained between these two sections B and C. The sections B and C are held in their horizontal position by means of slide clamps 44- each mounted upon one of the rails as, tor instan e, upon the rail B and slidable into position across the joint between the two rail sections B and C, each sliding clamp having flanges 45 which embrace the upper and lower edges of the bed rails, and each clamp plate is formed with a longitudinally extending slot 46. there being a screw 47 extending out from the ed section B and passing through this slot.

. Thus it will. be seen that when it is desired to fold these two sections into the relation shown in Figure 4. the clamps are withdrawn. and when it is desired to hold the two sections in alignment with each other the clamps are slid forward to engage the section C. The head end, as it may be called. of the bed sections is formed with ey'es through which passes the transversely extending rod 4-8 which may have screwthreaded engagement at one end with the end wall 11 and pass through an aperture in the other end wall and be provided with a handle 419 whereby the rod may be manipulated. If it be decsired to take out the bed section entirely, this rod may be withdrawn but normally the rod will be in place and. constitute a pivot upon which the head section of the bed will turn. A second rod' 50 which. is also removably engaged in perforations in the end walls 11. is for the purpose of engaging the hea section 01 the bed and lifting this head section where the casing 10 rests upon the ground. lVhere, however, the casing '10 rests upon the running board of an automobile, then the head section of the bed is engaged with the rod 48.

The foot section (l is provided upon its under side and adjacent 'cawh side rail 39 with a pair ot heads .31 spaced l XOETI QHCh other a distance to receive the head 35 which is mounted upon the corresponding slide 34. A bolt 52 is slidably V nosed within the beads 51 and may be PlOj (led through the head 35 or withd awn lrom QIIZQLLHQQR'IGTW with these beads 35. and when withdrawn the tootsection of the bed may be detached from its engagement with the slides 34: and by removing the transversely extending pin or rod 48. the support ure of the bed and he bed it, tirely remov d from its en; igement ith the two sections of the casino: Bv forming the plates 32 with relatively long slots lll) he placed in a folded eohditioh.

the m section of the iii'ight be disposed "on tenet/e151 grfitih'd'e'r in a hole and hbt *a t itS normal position Ul ltl l these eiteuinstances it is, ofcohr's'e', necessary that the foot seetion'of the loed shall be suppoi-ted on a level Wi'ththe head section theli'e'ot and this is the pin-pose of the vertically disposed members 31 having the notches but therei'n, the side fails of the bed section C heiiig pio- 'Vitle'd outwardly Projecting pins 53 which aife adapted to efige'ge 111 these hothes. It will tut-demure he obvious that in cese the toot section of the bed is disposed on iii 'clihed" ground, that is, inclined in the direet'i'on ot the length of the automobile that one side of the bed frame they be engaged With tl'1e' "fo0t sectieh of the easing at a hfifihei level than the othe'i' s de. In order to form a Wetter-tight joint between the end Etfid hotto'in Walls "of the section 10 and the end httofn walls 'otf the foot settien', I form the heed section just inward of the bitter edges o f the bot-tom and end @115 with a felt hack-mg and the I over 01 lid is also pro-titled with a telt tacking so that whee the footer is closed there Wlll be a Watertight engagement 'hetiteeh the cover and the the Walls of the case. i

The c ever is previded at one end with a mirfot 55. The other ehd is preferably pi-f'ot ide'd with at h'at tech in theohm of a clamp 56 or any "other suitable a parel support,

alld hetweeh the-hethlti'nih and the mirror 55the'fe is provided a eetch-ell 57 ilhistte-ted as to 'rmed of Wife fretting Within Which letters, hepis, clbthinh' of other matters ma Attached to the upper margin of the hac'k Wall of the body by ch ps 58 is a certain 59 "and hlothes hangers may he eligage'dwith the rear Wall behind this Ciirt-ein tot th pulf'pose of supporting clothes and keeping these iclothes plotebted h the curtain.

' Coac'tihg with the sheet-ere which has been described is a tent which normally is folded up and disposed ivithir'i the folds of the bed :01 behind the bed when itis folded up, this teht consisting of the top 60, the rear flap of Well 61 {ind the front hep 62. These frohtand rear flaps gue relatively short and the top 60 efitends downward at 63 and is stitt'hed to these flaps B1 and BQ'so as to to'rn corner pockets, as it new he teithed, Within which the epithets of the lid are enga ec'l and in which the ehi'hers of the sL'Lppott inghoW 2'7 are ehgeged; The down.- when extending; psi-eon 63 of the top has attttched thereto theside fields of eiirteihs 64 \tr'hich uhdersome circumstances I'nty he ro led upehd held streps'in an obvious manner or iihi'elletl so that the bed strueture is entirely enclosed, housed andpioteet'etl ffom rain. V

The .end 62 18 provided with hooks G5 adepted to engage in the apertures 29 of the how 27 'zih'd with heoks '66 tt h'ich are adapted to engage in apertures '67 fofrhe'd in the ehd Wells 23. The head end of the tent may he seemed in place by means of a strap 68 which isattaehed to the side flaps end extends across the test well 14 beneath the lid; After this tent is put in p'osit-i'oh (we the snppoi'ting structure, the lid 61 ma be raised 'by means of the notched braces 17 uhti-lthe tent has been placed under stfaih ai'id is stretched tight; These braces will, of 'cohi se, then engage the pins 20 ahd the tent will be held in its stretched condition H desired, a gu rope 69 is provided Which is pio'vi'ded \"v'ith he'olzs 70 at its extremities to engage in the pe'rfot'etion's 29 of the how 27; this uy rope being engaged at its enter end efou'nd the take or any othei suitable .an'choi'ing device, the gu rope thtisassistin-g in holdih-g thetent top stretched. This is pait'ic'hl ztfly necessary \theie the bed structure is removed from Within the ceslh, es Wheh the bed sti'uettue is removed the? 111 be nothing to holdthe foot se'c't'ioh'ih spat-ed r'elstioh to the head seeti'on s ne keep the tent tautend there would be '21 liability "of the foot section moving totv'eid the head section by tipping over. Vfheh the bed is removed, it is obvious that the tent structli'te may he used as it room or as an ordinary tent with the fle-p's either rolled-tip or enema to fan, thus permit-ting this tent to he used as sitting room for playing ca-ids di'essihg or for other putoses. The bottom 12 6f the seeti'o'h 10 extends late'r'ally oiitwztrd as at 13, so es to fj'eiinit the device to he clamped upen a riihh-ing h'o'ztrd; Any Other means for this purpose hotte'i' er, may he used.

I IClO Wish to be limited to the bed which will he used with the bed supporting and otherwise utilized.

I cleimel. A camping attzichinent for motor cats insiuding a cubical vertieall extending; head section open at one side and having it hinged lid at its top, a cubical foot seeti'o'n open tit tine sideand adapted to telescope into" the head section, at fold'zihle stipp'oi'ting element opeiativ'ely conneeted at its ends to the two sections acting to spread and hold the sections apart When unfolded, and a tent enga ed at one end with the free end of the lid of the 'heitd section and- 'at'it's other end with the foot section, the tent including side flaps, and means for engaging the side flaps with the head and foot sections.

2. A camping attachment for motor cars including a cubical vertically extending head section open at one side and having a hinget lid at its upper end, a cubical foot section open at one side and top and adapted to telescope into the head section, a bow slidably mounted on the foot section and movable into a raised position, means holding said how in its raised position, and a tent supported at one end by the free end of the lid of the head section and at its other end by said. how, the tent including side flaps.

3. A camping attachment for motor cars including a cubical vertically extending head section open at one side and having a hinged lid, a cubical foot section open at one side and top and adapted to telescope into the head section, a bow slidably mounted on the foot section and movable into a raised position, means holding said how in its raised position, a tent supported at one end by the free end of the lid of the head section and at its other end by said how, the tent including side flaps, a foldable supporting element pivotally and detachably connected at its ends to the head and foot sections respectively and foldable when the head and foot sections are shifted into telescopic engagement with each other and acting to brace the foot section and preventing its movement toward the head section.

4:. A camping attachment for motor cars including a cubical vertically extending head section open atone side and having a hinged lid, the lid being provided with braces engaging the ends of the head section whereby the lid may be adjusted into a plurality of angles, a cubical foot section open at one side and top and adapted to be telescoped into the head section, a tent adapted to be sup ported at one end by the free margin of the lid and at its other end by the foot section, and means for holding the footsection from movement toward the lid when the tent has been put in place, the angular adjustment of the lid serving to tighten the top of the tent and hold it taut.

5. A camping attachment for motor cars including a head section and a foot section, foldable supporting element operatively connected at one end to the head section, means operatively connecting the foot of the supporting element to the loot section and permitting the element to be supported in a horizontal plane when the foot section is tilted either longitudinally or laterally including vertically disposed notched members carried by the foot section. and pins on the side rail of the supporting element which engage with said notches.

6. A camping attachment for motor cars including a cubical head section open at one side and having a top, a cubical toot section open at one side and top and adapted to be telescoped into the head section, a supporting element formed of a plurality of sections hingedly engaged with each other whereby the sections of the supporting element may be folded into parallel relation or disposed in a horizontal aligned relation, means for look ing said sections in a horizontal position, and

means on the foot section permitting the ver-,

tical adjustment of the foot section relative to the foot of the supporting element.

7. A camping attachment for motor cars including a vertically extending cubical head section open at one side and having a top, a cubical foot section open at one side and top and adapted to be telescoped into the head section and having end walls and a rear wall, the rear wall being provided with vertically extending slotted members, slides mounted in said slotted members for vertical movement, each slide having a bead projecting out through said slot, a supporting element comprising a plurality of foldable sections, one of the end sections being pivotally connected to the head section, the other end section having beads embracing the beads on the slides and having shiftable bolts adapted to pass through all of said beads to thereby pivotally connect the supporting elements to the said slides, vertical members carried by the end walls of the foot section and having a plurality of notches, and pins on the bed support adapted to engage in said notches.

8. A camping attachment for motor cars including a cubical head section open at one side and having a lid and provided with a pair of transversely extending rods disposed one above the other. a cubical foot section open at one side and top and adapted to be telescoped into the head section, a foldable supporting element adjustably connected to the foot support for vertical adjustment, the opposite end of the supporting element having means for connection with either of said rods.

9. A camping attachment for motor cars including a head section and a foot section, both of said sections having a cubical form but being open on their confronting faces and one of said sections being adapted to telescope within the other section, a supporting structure composed of a plurality of hingedly connected sections, the end sections of the support being hingedly connected to the head and foot sections, certain of the sections of the support being operatively hinged to an intervening spacing member whereby said sections may be turned into parallel spaced relation, and means on one of the sections engaging the other section and adapted to lock the sections in aligned relation.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature. p

LEMON K. STEWARTJ 

